Shin sneered down at Koto. "What were you trying to accomplish by trying to kill me, and then coming up with a plan like that? Now I will just torture the information out of you."
Koto kept up his attempts at a brave front. "Aratanawaru will kill you sooner than that. I just have to bear… an hour or two. That's a blink of an eye in perspective!"
Shin shook his head, scowling with distaste. "You are an idiot. If you were as smart as you think, you'd realize that I will kill you before that, even if your plan succeeds. Even if that will be the last thing I do!"
He kicked Koto in the ribs, breaking a few, and grinned at the man's anguished cry.
Koto's false bravado fell after Shin exposed the worst hole in his plans, but he still shook his head wildly. "No! That's not true! My plan will work, it will work! I will be saved… I will!" he repeated over and over.
The man was in complete denial.
Shin watched him for another moment, feeling his anger be replaced with mild disgust. The demonic emotions in him weren't strong enough to force Shin to split just yet.
It didn't seem like Koto was bluffing about the radio station setup. It must've been recent even for him, too. Shin could imagine Koto visiting the radio station, then going to the lighthouse to… hide? Or make an ambush? It didn't matter.
Shin stepped on Koto's kneecap, increasing the pressure until Koto's howl of pain drowned out the sound of breaking bone. He removed his leg and stared into Koto's tearful eyes.
"What radio station had you gone to?"
"I won't tell you! I will be saved!"
Shin snarled. "You have many more bones that can be broken, idiot. You can still choose to die quickly."
Koto shook his head. He was biting his lip so hard that blood was pouring down it in a stream.
Shin went for his fingers, next. They were clenched into fists, so first Shin broke Koto's wrist. It was a messy business, but Shin's demonic part reveled in it, and his human part… was beginning to not care at all.
One wrist, five fingers and one more kneecap later, Koto was just a bawling, incoherent, bloody mess. His demon wasn't faring any better, despite not being touched by Shin—it was real weakling.
But Koto… With a deep scowl, Shin understood that this man was more stubborn and delusional than Shin had time. There was only one thing left to do.
With great satisfaction, he punched through Koto's ribcage and grabbed his still beating heart. The force of life and soul pulsed in it, striving to escape this mortal coil, but unable to.
With a hint of trepidation and anticipation, Shin bit down on it and closed his eyes to the ecstatic feeling. That pure ambrosia only became better than the last time he tried it. Even the soul of such a wretched person was like water from a mountain spring for a traveler in a desert.
Shin savored every bite until there was nothing left and he was licking his bloody lips. He ought to be disgusted with himself, but he was feeling too good for it, and too hungry for more already—like a crack addicted whore doesn't care what she does with an ugly old man for her next dose.
If he didn't have to hurry, Shin would've enjoyed the sensation for longer. But with regret, he pulled himself away from Tetsu, becoming his own being again.
Now the aftertaste of blood in his mouth wasn't the most delicious thing in the world, but a mildly disgusting one. The pleasure of taking revenge on Koto's actions dimmed to the familiar emptiness Shin usually felt inside.
With a wince, he went for his backpack and began searching inside.
'Tetsu,' he ordered while digging out a water bottle, 'deal with the rest of the people. We must hurry here.'
'Ah… Got it, boss. What a pity…' Tetsu stepped out of Shin and shook her tongue.
While she gutted Koto's demon and picked up morsels of her favorite liver parts, Shin rinsed his mouth with water and went to search for what he came here for.
First, the warlock's crystal ball. Then Shin went through the man's stashes. He didn't know the exact location of every item, but he knew enough that the search didn't take longer than half an hour.
There was a stencil board for talisman-painting aligned with the most influential for magic stars in the sky, a set of brushes from a maiden's hair and wood from a tree split by lightning, and more magic books.
With this set of things, Shin knew that making spells with even 3 Verses would be possible for him and Tetsu! Spells with 1 Verse would be a complete breeze. He could make himself ten new paper rats to replace Origami even today.
Too bad he didn't have the time.
When Tetsu finished her part and returned to Shin, it's been almost an hour since Koto gave his initial warning.
'It will take an hour to just get to the town, even if we merge and run through the forest to our car as fast as we could,' Shin said darkly. 'But we still have to do it. At the very least, I need things left at home.'
He still needed his magic books as a reference. There was also money and other necessities.
'Even if the Fourth God controls them, they will still be just humans. I will kill as many as I need for you, my friend!' Tetsu promised. 'It will be an absolute pleasure.'
Shin went out of the lighthouse and paused. While he was inside, the mild weather from the morning changed. Now the sky was covered in dark clouds, and rain was drizzling down on earth.
Just another annoyance to the pile of his problems. With a sigh, he merged with Tetsu again and ran into the forest with demonic speed, leaving deep footsteps in the wet ground.